Holmes County considers yearly EMS assessment to establish recurring funding

Holmes County officials are considering a new annual assessment that could provide recurring funding for emergency medical services while potentially reducing out-of-pocket costs for residents who require an ambulance.

During a recent Holmes County Board of County Commissioners meeting, Sheriff John Tate presented the idea as a possible way to provide a more stable source of funding for EMS.

“We have to find a way to find some reoccurring funds,” Tate told commissioners. “I did some research and found some other counties that have done some assessment fees. I think I may have found a way.”

Tate proposed an annual fee tied to property ownership. Under the concept he described, property owners would pay a yearly assessment in exchange for having ambulance costs covered beyond what their insurance pays.

“A yearly fee, in lieu of paying that fee, you don’t have to pay a bill for the ambulance other than what insurance covers,” Tate said. “Even at $100 a year on the household of the property owner, it would help EMS and help the budget.”

The proposal remains in the development stage. Commissioners directed County Attorney Nate Nolin to prepare information on an EMS assessment and bring the matter back before the board for consideration at its next meeting.

The potential assessment comes as county officials continue looking for ways to provide recurring funding for county services. Unlike one-time appropriations, a recurring funding source could provide EMS with a more predictable stream of revenue for ongoing operations.

The details of the proposed assessment, including how much property owners would pay, who would be subject to the assessment, how the funds would be collected, and how ambulance billing would be affected, have not yet been finalized.

The Holmes County Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to meet Tuesday, Sept. 1, beginning with a budget meeting at 5 p.m., followed by the regular meeting at 6 p.m.